Maglio Named Acting Director

On February 9, 2024, Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen issued a statement noting that Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi had been placed on unpaid administrative leave, indefinitely, for a personnel-related matter and that, in Mr. Cantoreggi’s absence, Town Engineer, Mike Maglio, would be named Acting Director of Public Works for the Town of Franklin until further notice.

According to information from the docket regarding this case, published on February 18, 2024 in The Franklin Observer (https://franklinobserver.town.news/), a matter was brought before the State Ethics Commission regarding Cantoreggi’s acceptance of the gift of ski trips and some related expenses of substantial value [1] from a vendor. This case, docket number 24-0003, appeared to violate G.L. c. 268A, the Conflict of Interest Law, as Amended by c. 194, Acts of 2011.

As published in The Franklin Observer, the Ethics Committee ordered the following:

“Disposition

In view of the foregoing violations of G.L. c. 268A by Cantoreggi, the Commission has determined that the public interest would be served by the disposition of this matter without further enforcement proceedings, on the following terms and conditions agreed to by Cantoreggi:

(1) that Cantoreggi pay to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with such payment to be delivered to the Commission, the sum of $15,000 as a civil penalty for repeatedly violating G.L. c. 268A, § 23(b)(2)(i); and

(2) that Cantoreggi waive all rights to contest, in this or any other administrative or judicial proceeding to which the Commission is or may be a party, the findings of fact, conclusions of law and terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.

By signing below, Cantoreggi acknowledges that he has personally read this Disposition Agreement, that it is a public document, and that he agrees to its terms and conditions.

STATE ETHICS COMMISSION

[1] Substantial value is $50 or more. 930 CMR 5.05.”

As of LTP press time, Town Administrator Hellen had not yet responded to inquiries from Local Town Pages or The Franklin Observer.